Anyone who relies on a car to make ends meet (that is, nearly everyone in the U.S.) knows that gasoline is quickly approaching the $5 mark and may hit $6 a gallon by the end of the summer. With the lack of jobs in Santa Cruz County, especially in San Lorenzo Valley, we simply don’t have many choices other than driving “over the hill” for a paycheck.

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I recently interviewed a home wine maker in Boulder Creek who started his own co-op only a couple of years ago. His name is Ken Baurmeister, and he makes wine with Larry Hill, Eric Rice and Floyd Curtis. Their operation is quite small, but already they are having some success.

As I filled my gas tank and watched the meter on the pump roll past $50, then $60, then $70, I couldn’t help but think of Jay Friedland, who drives an electric vehicle and says the only time he pulls into a gas station is to fill his tires with air.

Have you ever had any of these experiences?

The San Lorenzo Valley Water district announced the winners of its annual environmental grant contest last week.